Defense officials visit Pathankot air base

Ravi Dhaliwal

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Tribune New Service

Pathankot, January 16

Senior officials of the Ministry of Defense visited the air force station today and took cognisance of the innumerable gaps in the security of the base, including the all important 11- foot high perimeter wall.

Six militants had entered the base in the wee hours of January 2 and started firing from the outskirts of the technical area which houses the hangars of a fighter squadron, helicopters and other equipment.

The number of officials was kept a secret and the media was also not informed of the visit. The perimeter wall caught the attention of the officials as on January 1 the terrorists had entered the airbase from the western periphery wall where a clump of eucalyptus trees tower over the 11-foot high wall. The rear wall is near Akalgarh gurdwara and is also adjacent to the point from where the militants are suspected to have infiltrated into the complex.

Six Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists were gunned down by the security forces after a four-day gun battle. Seven Indian security personnel also lost their lives.

The ease with which the terrorists penetrated the base carrying a huge cache of weapons has raised several questions on the safety and security of the air base.

After the inspection, a senior MoD official signalled that the IAF staff, including senior officers, may face action over the security lapse.

Ministry officials, however, confirmed that no insider was involved in the terror attack. Earlier, officers investigating the case had found that three fence floodlights at the base were pointing upwards while every other light there was in the right direction.

An MES employee was questioned on this count.